World Traveler and Travel Expert John Cinnamon joins Travel Leaders

After owning his own travel business for five years, John Cinnamon is joining Travel Leaders/Conference & Travel of Fort Wayne which owns several Travel Leaders offices throughout Indiana.

Travel Leaders Network is the largest network of travel agencies in North America with nearly 7,000 locations and has been around for more than 30 years.

John Cinnamon has traveled extensively around the world having visited as many as 90 countries on all 7 continents.  He enjoys experiential travel and has attended such events as Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain; Okotberfest in Munich, Germany; Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York; and Chinese New Year in Shanghai, China.

With rhinos on a walking safari in Zambia

With adventure travel also an interest, he has gone gorilla trekking in Rwanda, snorkeled with sea lions in the Galapagos, toured Chernobyl in the Ukraine and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

He personally knows travel well and offers clients personal service and expertise that they will not find anywhere else.

From all-inclusives to cruises to customized trips anywhere in the world, John Cinnamon can help you plan the perfect trip.

Contact him at 317-709-4609 or jcinnamon@travlead.com.

Baggage Carousel Red Rover

"Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Johnny Come Over!"

Oh sure, he WOULD pick on the girls.

We all remember this game from our childhood. Two teams line up across from each other with each team's members holding hands, forming what they hope is an impenetrable barrier.  Team one sends out the call and Johnny comes running from the other line trying to break through the other team's line.


I can't help but think of this game every time we're standing at the luggage return at the airport. Long before the suitcases start sliding down the baggage ejector ramp, a phalanx of travelers has formed that Red Rover line right next to the carousel, making it impossible to, 1) see your suitcase, and 2) pull it off without banging someone in the groin with it.  A 50-lb. fabric box with wheels and a small handle is hard enough to take off a moving belt without having to do so through a line of strangers standing should-to-shoulder.

"Hey you... at Carousel Two!  BACK UP!"

Is it too much to ask to have everyone take three steps back from the carousel?  From there you're still close enough to recognize your own bag, but far enough away to allow ample room to safely get it off the conveyor.

Tips on Budget Travel This Week on Get Packin'

Russell Hannon on vacation.
(Probably got there really cheaply)

If the cost of travel is keeping you from seeing the world, our guest this week on Get Packin' has some money-saving travel tips.  Russell Hannon (@Russellhannon) is a self-described ultra-economical travel expert and the author of "Stop Dreaming, Start Traveling".  From things to do in preparation for travel to money-savers at your destination, Russell will share some of his best suggestions when he joins us this Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM & 950 AM and streaming at freedom95.us).

No, not even The Rock makes
a fanny pack cool.

Our Top Ten list this week is How to Spot an American Abroad.  Spoiler Alert: fanny packs are involved.  You might as well wear an American flag t-shirt and a 'Make America Great Again' hat. Tune in to hear the other nine.  Long lines at TSA checkpoints at U.S. airports are making headlines. We'll have the latest.  And once you get through those lines, which airline has the best frequent flier program?  You'll want to know the answer.

Royal Caribbean is about to launch the world's largest cruise ship, the Harmony of the Seas.  This thing is HUGE!  We'll give you the dimensions and what you'll find on-board.  Finally, a Memphis-based flight attendant has been indicted for stealing from her workplace.  But wait til you hear exactly what she stole.  All that and more this week on Get Packin' on Freedom 95.

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This Week on 'Get Packin'

In more than 30 years of broadcasting, this Saturday's edition of Get Packin' may be the first time we've had the phrase "Full Pig Experience" used in an on-air interview.  It comes courtesy of Mark Newman, Executive Director of Visit Indiana, during a discussion of Fair Oaks Farms, just one of the great places to visit around the state of Indiana.  Mark will explain that and touch on many other Indiana highlights on our show this Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM & 950 AM in Indianapolis and streaming worldwide at www.freedom95.us).  Did you know "landlocked" Indiana boasts one of the best beaches in America? Mark gives us the lowdown on that, too.

Full Pig Experience.  Mmmmm, experience.

This summer is expected to have the lowest airfares in more than five years.  We'll have the Top Ten best airfare deals to destinations around the world.  To haggle or not to haggle? That is the question. Or what about giving to panhandlers?  These are just a couple of common moral dilemmas we face as tourists to foreign lands.  We'll have advice on what to do when confronted with these potentially uncomfortable situations.

DON'T BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN A RENTAL CAR. CLICK HERE TO READ WHY SIZE MATTERS IN EUROPEAN RENTAL CARS.

You'll be surprised to find out how the TSA made more than $765,000 last year.  You may have contributed to their windfall.  And speaking of falling, a tourist in Lisbon, Portugal climbed a building facade in an attempt to take a selfie with a 126-year-old statue.  Spoiler alert!  It didn't end well.  All that and more on this week's edition of Get Packin'. Tune in Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on Freedom 95.

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When it Comes to Rental Cars, Size Matters

What might have been.  (That's NOT us.)

As told by John.

When people who have never been outside the U.S. ask me where they should go as an introduction to international travel, I always suggest England.  The common language, familiarity with British history and highly recognizable landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower Bridge and the queen's ever-present purse make it fairly easy to acclimate to their culture.  Then they ask about the driving.  Yes, that whole driving-on-the-other-side-of-the-road thing does take some getting used to.  But you also have to be careful what kind of rental car you're getting.

My first time to Europe was a trip with Ann to France and England in 1996 for our first anniversary.  After a few days in Paris - sans auto - we made our way to London.  First stop: the car rental counter at Heathrow Airport.  Like the good travelers we are, we had already made our rental car reservation well in advance.  But in an effort to save a few pence, and since it was just the two of us, we reserved a compact car.  We approached the rental agent - a good-natured young Brit - and handed him our reservation.  Without a word, he gave us the once-over; looking at our two oversize suitcases, two carry-ons and my substantial six-foot three-inch frame.  Moving his gaze back to the reservation and spotting the word "compact", a wry smile came across his face.  Still looking at the paper, and with a chuckle in his Monty Python-esque voice, he said, "Oh, one of THOSE."

     CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER RENTAL CAR MISADVENTURE

Much the way clothing sizes vary from country to country, a "compact" car in the U.K. isn't what you know as a "compact" car in America.  If you attached a telescoping handle to the front bumper of a British compact, it would make a perfectly suitable carry-on and fit quite nicely in the overhead compartment.  The rental agent immediately realized there was no way I was going to fit into the four-cylinder Samsonite, much less all our luggage, and was nice enough to give us an upgrade.

Our first vehicular tragedy averted, it was time to tackle the left-side driving... with a manual transmission!  Oh great.  Not only do I have to sit on the right side of the car, drive on the left side of the road and navigate the crowded, narrow, unfamiliar streets of London, but I have to do it with the gear shift in my left hand.  Sheesh!  Why didn't they just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice in it?  OK, it wasn't that bad.  Ultimately, we got the hang of it and soon were enjoying the freedom of being able to travel around southern England at our own pace.  That's probably the best part of having your own transportation; not being beholden to train schedules, not having to tip a cabbie, not having to walk to the nearest public transit station.  Just get in the car and go.

And go we did.  Across the nearly-deserted country roads of the Salisbury plain where Stonehenge appeared on the horizon like a rocky mirage.  To Anne Hathaway's house (that's Shakespeare's squeeze, not the Hollywood actress) in the town of Stratford-Upon-Avon where William may have found inspiration for his love stories. And to Dover on the southeast coast, where we stumbled upon the unexpected gem of Dover Castle, on our way to view the magnificent white cliffs.  You never know what you'll find when you're able to get yourself off the beaten path driving through a new land.  Just don't get yourself stuck with "one of THOSE."

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US State Department Talks to "Get Packin'"

When the U.S. State Department issues a 'Travel Warning' or a 'Travel Advisory' or a 'Uh, uh, uh. Don't go there!', what exactly does it mean?  We get to the bottom of it when Rachel Crawford, Citizen Services Officer with the State Dept. joins us for Get Packin' this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM and 950 AM or streaming worldwide at freedom95.us).  She'll help us navigate the often confusing and sometimes vague warnings issued for international travel.

What are the happiest countries on earth?  We have the results of a recent in this week's Top Ten. Spoiler alert:  America didn't make the top ten.  The good news, we didn't make the bottom ten, either.  We'll have that list, as well.

Our travel tip this week is to make you aware of some common scams that you might fall victim to. The "Chatty Cathy" scam?  The "Friendship Bracelet" rouse?  The old "Switcheroo"?  You need to know the details and what to look out for.

May marks the beginning of the Alaska cruise and travel season, so we'll have more info about travel to Alaska as our Hot Destination.  Airline profits were WAY up last year, so what does that mean for you?  We'll tell you.  All that and more on Get Packin' this Saturday afternoon at 4:00.

Click here to Like our Facebook Page and please Follow us on Twitter at our respective links at the top of the right column here.  And to hear past podcasts, click here and scroll down to Get Packin' with Ann & John.

Our "Hot" Destination Will Leave You Glowing

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred 30 years ago this week.  Days after the accident, the 50,000 residents of the nearby town of Pripyat were evacuated, never to return.  But three decades later it's tourists that populate what's known as the Exclusion Zone, a 30-kilometer radius of contaminated land around the power plant.  Is it safe to visit?  What is there to see?  We'll answer those questions and more this week in the "Hot Destination" segment of Get Packin', Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM and 950 AM in Indianapolis or streaming worldwide at www.freedom95.us)

There's plenty to see and do in Indianapolis this Spring and Summer.  We'll get a rundown of all the fun stuff from Lisa Wallace of Visit Indy, including miniature golf at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  Speaking of museums, the home of the late artist Prince is set to become a museum.  We'll have details on that and who's leading the effort.  The world's oldest message in a bottle has been found. We'll tell you what the message was and who sent it.

Quite possibly his first salad.  Ever.

And one London restaurant is taking the idea of a "natural" dining experience to the extreme.  Maybe we should call it an au naturel experience.  The Bunyadi is said to be the first naked restaurant in the British capital, where diners will have the opportunity to have dinner while wearing nothing at all. ("Do you have reservations?  Yes, but we're eating here, anyway."  Ba da BING!)

TRAVEL FOOD: CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE BEST DESSERT EVER.  (We kept our clothes on!)

All that and more on this week's (clothing optional) Get Packin'. We hope you'll join us.

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Cuba, Iceland, and Drones This Week on Get Packin'

Carnival Cruise Lines' new ship - the 704-passenger Adonia, that will do "voluntourism" cruises to the Dominican Republic and Cuba as part of Carnival's Fathom brand - is supposed to make its maiden Cuban voyage on May 1st.  Well, despite the thawing of relations between the U.S. and Cuba in recent months, there is still one little-known rule about travel to Cuba that could throw a wrench in those plans.  That's just one of the stories we'll be talking about on this week's edition of Get Packin', our weekly travel radio show you can hear Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM and 950 AM in the Indianapolis area and streaming worldwide at www.freedom95.us).

Ann and her Grand Tetons, one of the
Top Ten Most Visited National Parks.

Also on the show, we celebrate 2016 as the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by giving you the Top Ten Most Visited National Parks.  Think the Grand Canyon is Number 1?  Think again. It's a very distant second place.  We'll give you the surprising #1 and the rest of the Top Ten,  We'll even throw in #11, since it's fairly close to Indiana.

We're going to talk to Alex Pinelo of Norwegian Cruise Line about the history of the cruise line and how cruising has changed since Norwegian introduced the first modern cruise ship 50 years ago. (Hint: that first Norwegian ship could fit inside the engine room of today's Norwegian mega-ships!)

TRAVEL TIP:  THE SHOWER CAP - IT'S NOT JUST FOR SHOWERS ANYMORE

If you're planning a trip to mainland Europe, Iceland Air has a great offer.  It's essentially a FREE layover in Iceland.  We'll explain when we talk about Iceland as this week's Hot Destination.  There was a midair collision between a British Airways plane and a drone above London's Heathrow Airport.  The plane and passengers are OK.  The drone, not so much.  All that and more on Get Packin', Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Freedom 95.

Be sure to Like the Ann & John's Excellent Adventures Facebook Page  and Follow each of us on Twitter.  You can find our Twitter links at the top of the right column here.

Get Packin' for Saturday, April 16

Each week on Get Packin' we feature a "Hot Destination", a location that has seen a marked increase in interest from travelers because of the time of year, a specific event, or because it's been in the news.  We've had obvious locales, like Cuba (in the news) and ironic ones, like Iceland ("HOT" destination, ICEland. Get it?).  Anyway, this week's Hot Destination may be our most surprising of all.  Iran.  Despite the U.S. State Department's warnings about traveling to Iran, apparently Americans aren't listening. According to the director of one North American travel agency, "Iran really does appear poised to become the next Cuba."  And like Cuba, it's the lifting of sanctions that has opened the flood gates of tourists to Iran.  We'll talk more about it Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. on Get Packin' on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM and 950 AM in the Indianapolis area and streaming worldwide at www,freedom95.us).

No, that's NOT Ann
on the cover.

Iran has been on what Ann calls her "Extreme Bucket List" for a while now, hoping to return to a place she once called home.  Ann lived in Tehran, Iran for a year-and-a-half back in the mid 70s as a 19-year-old newlywed, a time she recounts in her memoir, Walking Naked in Tehran.  (Shameless plug alert!)  You can get the book on Amazon or at WalkingNakedInTehran.com.  Now back to our show...

We'll welcome back Scott McCartney (@MiddleSeat) to Get Packin'.  Scott writes the Middle Seat travel column for the Wall Street Journal and he will help us navigate the sometimes confusing world of airplane seat categories.  Just when you thought you had figured out the difference between First Class and Business Class, along comes Premium Economy and Last Class.  Scott will lay it all out for us.

     Click here to see if water really does go down the drain differently
     in the Southern Hemisphere from the Northern Hemisphere.

A French tourist in Rome found out the hard way why you SHOULDN'T try to photograph the Colosseum with a drone.  And two Chinese women were shocked at the kind of hotel room an airline put them up in after their flight was cancelled.  Details on those and other stories this week on Get Packin', Saturday afternoon at 4:00 on Freedom 95.

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This Week on Get Packin'

Brussels.  Paris.  Istanbul.  Not long ago these names conjured images of classic European architecture, iconic tourist attractions, unique cuisine, and centuries-old culture.  Bucket-list destinations all.  But now when those names are invoked, tragically, the first images that come to mind are an airport in ruin, blood on the floor of a nightclub, or tourists running for their lives.  Thus is the world of travel in the age of terrorism.  That is one of the topics we'll discuss this Saturday, April 9 at 4:00pm on Get Packin', our weekly travel radio show heard in the Indianapolis area on Freedom 95 (95.9 FM and 950 AM or streaming worldwide on www.freedom95.us).

The Brussels Airport reopened on April 3rd with limited service.  We'll have more details on that, as well as the frustratingly vague travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department for all of Europe. And we'll chat with George Hobica (@airfarewatchdog) of Airfare Watchdog about what this all means for travelers.

Click here to read about our latest Excellent Adventure to Europe

Make America Stay at My Hotels Again

On a sunnier note - literally - this week's Hot Destinations are the cities of the world that see the most sunshine year-round.  Number one on the list is right here in America.  If you're tech-savvy, you'll be interested to find out which airline is now making it possible to get your boarding pass via Facebook Messenger.  And finally, what effect is Donald Trump's presidential campaign having on his hotel business?  You might be surprised by the answer.

All those stories and more this week on Get Packin' with Ann & John.

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